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Lead Stories: Monday, October 13, 2008

Beijing Swelters in Advance of Opening Ceremony

Posted August 8th, 2008 at 11:00 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics

In advance of tonight’s Opening Ceremony, Beijing remains in the grip of a humid haze so thick that one could barely see the sun over Tiananmen Square this morning (see photo).

This is the third consecutive day that this Olympic host city has seen stifling humidity which has greatly reduced visibility and has left athletes, tourists and members of the media alike sweating profusely. There has not been a blue sky to look at since Tuesday afternoon.
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Marathon Ace Goumri Added to Healthy Kidney 10-K

Posted May 12th, 2008 at 6:00 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Road Racing

One of the world’s top marathon runners, Abderrahim Goumri of Morocco, has been added to the field of next Saturday’s Healthy Kidney 10-K, the New York Road Runners announced today. Goumri, who turns 32 on May 21, was the #2 ranked marathoner in the world last year according to Race Results Weekly, finishing second at both the Flora London and ING New York City Marathons.

“Abderrahim returns to New York and the center stage against this formidable field for another step in a career that has been steadily on the rise the past few years,” said NYRR president and CEO Mary Wittenberg through a prepared statement.

Goumri was added to the field in the wake of defending champion Dathan Ritzenhein’s withdrawal due to injury. The speedy Moroccan hold’s his nation’s record for the marathon which he set last April when he finished third at the Flora London Marathon in 2:05:30. He’s no slouch at the 10 km distance, either, also holding his nation’s 10,000m record of 27:02.62. He’s also run 28:34 on the road.
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London Marathon to Announce New Title Sponsor

Posted May 12th, 2008 at 2:24 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Beginning in the spring of 2010, it won’t be called the “Flora London Marathon” any longer. But what will be the new name?

Journalists have been asked to assemble at the Tower Hotel on St. Katharine Way in London on Friday, May 16, to find out which company will be the London Marathon’s new title sponsor.

Race Results Weekly (RRW) spoke on background to a high-ranking London Marathon official on the day of the Boston Marathon who said that the London event had been pitched by five well-heeled sponsors all vying for the privilege of bankrolling the world’s top spring marathon.

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Lel Takes London Record in History-Making Race

Posted April 14th, 2008 at 10:20 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Like a bull at a rodeo, the men’s field at the 28th Flora London Marathon bolted out of the gate with reckless abandon. The athletes who were strong enough to hang on were rewarded with personal and national records, while others were thrown to the street, their hopes of victory incinerated by the fast pace.

But when the dust had settled at the grand finish line on The Mall, race director David Bedford’s bold experiment in aggressive pacemaking yielded –by several measures– the fastest men’s marathon of all-time, with three men cracking 2:06:00, and six men breaking 2:07:00, for the first time ever in a single race. Those times came after a breathtaking 62:12 first half which left some of the world’s best marathoners well off the pace.

“It was crazy,” said last year’s runner-up, Abderrahim Goumri, of the 14:21 (downhill) first 5-K.

But the fast pace, coupled with a cold and drenching rain which fell from the 18th through the 23rd miles, did little to knock defending champion Martin Lel (Pictured above) off of his game.
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TFS Podcast 133: Pre-London Marathon Teleconference with Ryan Hall & David Bedford

Posted April 10th, 2008 at 6:35 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Special Features, Interviews, Podcasts

Episode 133 of The Final Sprint Podcast features a teleconference interview with Ryan Hall and David Bedford prior to the 2008 Flora London Marathon.

The teleconference was hosted by the London Marathon and was promoted by USA Track and Field (USATF) & the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

In the teleconference Hall and Bedford, the London race director, respond to questions from the international running media and from a select panel that included Race Result Weekly’s David Monti onsite in London.

TO DOWNLOAD: Right click here and select “Save As”

Host: London Marathon | Guest: Ryan Hall
Producers: Greg Cherniet, Adam Jacobs
Music: Ryan Ahlwardt & Darnell Perkins
File size: 21.8 MB | Length: 00:31:50

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Munyutu & Komu Set Unique Record at Paris Marathon

Posted April 9th, 2008 at 10:30 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

It was a good day for Kenyans Simon Munyutu and Martha Komu at last Sunday’s Paris International Marathon. Both athletes set personal best times (2:09:24 for Munyutu and 2:25:33 for Komu), and Komu got her first big marathon win.

But the couple also achieved a unique record, according to veteran marathon statistician Marty Post. Their combined time of 4:34:57 was the fastest ever set by a married couple running in the same marathon.

“Best known previous was 4:41:42 by Odilon Cuahutle (2:18:43) and Madai Perez (2:22:59) at Chicago ‘06,” Post wrote in an e-mail message to Race Results Weekly.
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Athlete Ngetich Perishes in Ongoing Kenyan Violence

Posted January 21st, 2008 at 1:22 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

The ongoing violence in Kenya has claimed the life of marathoner Wesley Ngetich, according to his manager Hussein Makke. The 34 year-old athlete was shot in the chest with an arrow today during fighting in his hometown of Trans Mara, not far from Masai Mara.

“They spoke to his sister-in-law who said they took him to the hospital and he passed away,” Makke explained in an e-mail message to Race Results Weekly. “I don’t have any further information at the moment.”

Makke got the news of Ngetich’s death from his on-site manager in Kenya, Francis Kamau.
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Training for Dubai, Gebrselassie & Kiplagat Face Different Challenges

Posted January 7th, 2008 at 3:34 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

With the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon looming in just 11 days, Haile Gebrselassie and Lornah Kiplagat are making their final preprations, each facing their own special challenges.

Gebrselassie, the world record holder and #2-ranked marathoner in the world last year in Race Results Weekly’s rankings, is dreaming of the $1 million bonus on the line for toppling his own world best of 2:04:26 set in Berlin last September. Well, at least his Dutch manager Jos Hermens is.

“I and he are certain he can do under 2:04,” Hermens is quoted by race organizers as saying last week.

But Gebrselassie himself is more circumspect. “Yes, I did 2:04 in Berlin,” Gebrselassie told race organizers via telephone over the weekend. “But everything was perfect, the weather, the course, the pacemaking. Sure, it’s possible to do under 2:04, but everything has to be perfect again.”
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Hall and Wanjiru Added to London Marathon Field

Posted January 7th, 2008 at 12:30 PM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Race director David Bedford has beefed up his already robust field for the 2008 Flora London Marathon by adding two of the sport’s most promising marathon stars: Ryan Hall (Pictured) of Big Bear Lake, Calif., and Samuel Wanjiru of Kenya. The 28th edition of the race is scheduled for Sunday, April 13.

Hall, 25, is coming off of a dramatic victory at the USA Olympic Team Trials - Men’s Marathon held in New York City last November. The former Stanford University star ran a brilliant race, saving his strength during the first half of the hilly, five-loop course in Central Park before unleashing a seemingly effortless 62:45 for the second half. His finish time of 2:09:02 was a Trials record, despite the fact that he lost at least half a minute in the final miles celebrating his victory. Hall also ran 2:08:24 at London in his debut last April, a USA debut record.
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Strong Men’s 3-K Shaping Up for Reebok Boston Indoor Games

Posted January 5th, 2008 at 11:31 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, College

A strong men’s 3000m race is shaping up for the Reebok Boston Indoor Games scheduled for Saturday, January 26 at the Reggie Lewis Track Facility at Roxbury Community College in Boston.

Leading the field will be Australia’s Craig Mottram, the defending champion and the 2005 IAAF World Championships bronze medalist at 5000m. “It will be a good opportunity to measure my race form after some very good training down here in Australia since November,” said Mottram via e-mail from his high altitude training base in Falls Creek, Victoria.

Mottram clocked an Australian record 7:39.24 when he won in Boston last year, running 54.99 for the final 400m despite taking the opportunity to celebrate a little in the final lap. “That was one of my best races, ever,” he told Race Results Weekly after the race. Mottram also won the two-mile event which was held at this meet in 2006.
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